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BER 7-

THE GREAT BRITAtN As t) NAUTICAL CHARTS.

tothr editor of THE SHI PPING AND MERCANTILE GAZETTE.

Sir, — As we have probably heard all the statements and
conjectures respecting the loss of the Great Britain, which
are likely to throw any light upon her disaster, I think it
right that some of the observations that have been mode
should not pass unnoticed. 1 consider it but justice
to myself and others, that sopie of the obloquy which
has been cast on private charts by the resolutions of the
Great Western dlrec'ors, and by those interested in the sate
of the Admiralty surveys, should* be fairly answered. 1 would
refer more particularly to the remdrkg in the Shipping and
Mercantile Gazelle of Oct. 23, and the Nhtilikal Magazine.

Up to a recent period the Admiralty had no good charts of
the coasts In question, and now make use of my chart of St.
George’s Channel f&T the navy. The copyright of this was
purchased of the late Captain Huddart by this house for
2,000/., and I will state, that it has afforded materials for
nearly every chart that has since been published — Captain
Hosken’s chart included. The notice of the lighthouse on
St. John’s Point is shown on this chart (as it is upon all
others that I have}, and has been so since January, 1841,
or four months before the lighthouse itself was illuminated.
Concerning the omission of the light in the chart published at
Liverpool, I shall not remark, but I think it unjust to argue
from that one circumstance that all charts are incorrect, as it
is to assume that all Admiralty charts are absolutely perfect.

I will not say a word in dispraise of the collection of Admiralty
surveys, they are worthy of the nation, and are as complete
as care and talent can make them : but they are liable to
omissions as gross, and errors as glaring, as that to which the
loss of the Great Britain has been attributed.

I will cite one or two instances that occur to me. The
Admiralty charts of Harwich would have inevitably laid any
ship on shore that followed their direction, until Captuin
Washington's survey of the harbour was published in 1842.
This fine chart was issued with a scale attached, that was
nearly one-seventh in error. Another : Captain Blackwood’s
survey of Endeavour Straits (Australia) was published in
March, 1846; in August, the ship Heroine, following the
track laid down in it, after passing two shoals not men-
tioned, struck, and was nearly wrecked on a shoal of
nine feet, where nine fathoms was marked on the
chart. Again, as to description of lights by autho-
ritg : — The Nautical Magazine is conducted well, I ac-
knowledge, but in a corrected description of the lights
in the English Channel at twenty-nine places, in July,
1845, there are not fewer than fourteen errors, auy one of
which is as likely to produce a disaster as great as that of the
Great Britain. This list is especially marked to be de-
pended on.

I do not cite these instances invidiously, they may be easily
multiplied, but merely to show that absolute perfection is no'
attainable.

Now it has been complained of that the Admiralty charts
are not appreciated Dy the mercantile marine ; that Mr. Bates’s
endeavours to promulgate them have been thwarted. 1 can
say to this, that every chart seller has the same opportunity of
supplying the public with these documents, and at the same
rate, and they sold in large numbers by chart publishers.
But the Admiralty chart5* are not the only documents of au-
thority extant, nor are our n»:.al surveyors the only observers;
and if private enterprise be left Utuf (tered, the wants of the
public will be far more efficiently serveil i£aJ> by <he exercise
of any authority, such as that proposed by the &£*** Western
directors, or of any body of men, upon which to thro* $be re-
sponsibility of error.

That there are many very inferior charts Bold 1 am quite
ready to admit, but with those of any character, I boldly
challenge comparison with theAdmiralty charts for amount or
correctness of information ; and with respect to tbe alleged
cheapness of the Admiralty charts, I at once deny their supe-
rior claims on this head. Chartsare not the only instruments
of navigation, but to have them of the best authority is un-
doubtedly the dtity of every seaman : but if he has not
discrimination enough to decide between a good and a bad
chart, the assistance they will afford to him is of minor im-
portance. When accidents do occur , if commanders will be
but ingenuous enough to publish by what authority they have
been led into error, and thus afford the means of refuting,
when necessary, any erroneous statements, tho evils com-
plained of, that of incomplete charts, will soon be cured.

t am, air, yours, &c. C .d .

53. Fleet-street. R. H. LAUIUE.~

(.We publish this letter, considering it desirable that our
nautical friends should be correctly informed upon the subject
of marine charts ; at the same time it is due to remark, that
there are slight discrepancies in Mr. Laurie’s letter which we
hope to see explained. — Ed. S. d' M. G. j

7

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C A F T ? JOSEPH 1HI V D D A RT . F. R. S .

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M E M O

OF THE LATE

CAPTAIN JOSEPH HUDDART,

F. R.S. &c.

LONDON :

PRINTED BY \V. PHILLIPS, GEORGE YARD, LOMBARD STREET.

a o ' «

1821.

ISTORICAL J
MEDICAL /

To CHARLES HAMPDEN TURNER, Esq.

MY DEAR SIR,

In dedicating to you the following pages I perform
an act peculiarly congenial to my feelings for many reasons ;
amongst which, the kind and efficient assistance received from
you in their compilation, and the friendship long subsisting
between us, might have alone sufficed, had there not existed
another and a stronger inducement. I feel that in dedicating
to you a record of the life of my Father, the late Captain
Huddart, 1 offer a grateful tribute of respect to his memory ;
for the esteem and regard for you, cherished by him for many
years, knew no abatement to the latest period of his valuable
life.

I am, with great truth,

My dear Sir,

Your faithful and obliged friend,

JOSEPH HUDDART.

Bryn kir, December 1821.

*

9!ntrotwcttom

The plaudits of admiring nations attend the
Warrior and the Statesman, whose actions illumine
the page of enduring History, whilst the silent lapse
of time but too often consigns gradually to oblivion
the name ot the philosopher who strengthened the
sinews of the one, and multiplied the powers of the
other, by scientific and mechanical improvements and
discoveries ; and are we not indebted for very many
of the useful arts of life to benefactors of whose ex-
istence we are ignorant, except as regards its conse-
quences, and but too frequently indifferent?

Filial piety, and unshaken friendship, have united
their endeavours to rescue from the ebbing tide of
forgetfulness the name of Joseph Huddart, and to
combine it with his many useful works for which a
nation owes its tribute of thanks.

VI

Never perhaps did a nation boast a higher rank
in the lists of empire, or in the annals of science, than
Britain at this moment, in all that the intellect of man
has contributed to external glory, or to the advance-
ment of the highest branches of practical knowledge.
The names of Watt, Rennie, and Huddart have been
Ion ^ known to the enlightened of every European
country ; the friendship which united them added
lustre to their individual acquirements, and was at
once a pledge of the utility of their undei takings, and
a proof of the liberality of their sentiments.

The grave has closed over them all ; but, unlike the
bulk of mankind, they have left to their country innu-
merable works of useful science and mechanism, which
must prove to posterity lasting records ot their skill
and industry ; and their surviving friends possess the
pleasing and consoling reflection that, in them, su-
perior talent, persevering exertion, and private worth
were intimately combined. Hence, we cannot but
regret, that the want of a due estimation of their
own importance should seem to have prevented their

Vll

making1 such notes or leaving such memoranda, as
might have afforded the means of ascertaining the
progress of their discoveries, and of giving a faithful
history of their lives; which now can only be exhi-
bited, but as the one is exemplified in the beneficial
results of their labours, and the other is inscribed
on the memories of their contemporaries. The fol-
lowing account of Captain Huddaht must necessarily
therefore be incomplete, although it is hoped and
believed to be in no instance incorrect ; and as such,
it is presented with all its imperfections to a numerous
circle, each individual of which will acknowledge his
merit, and deplore his loss as a man, a philosopher,
and a Christian.

%

MEMOIR, &c.

CAPTAIN HUDDART was born at Allonby,
(a village in Cumberland much frequented as a bathing
place), on the 11th of January, 1740-1, O. S. : he was
an only child, and at the usual age was placed under
the care of the Reverend Mr. Wilson, at Allonby.
This gentleman had acquired a considerable know-
ledge of Medicine and Astronomy at Glasgow College,
and possessed a share of learning superior to most
others who are emphatically styled country school-
masters. The mind of Mr. Huddart, even at this
early period, seemed much inclined to the study of
Mathematics, a branch of science in which, unfortu-
nately, Mr. Wilson was incapable of giving him any
instruction ; this deficiency was, however, in some
measure compensated by the cultivation of his early

A

2

inclination for the study of Astronomy; an oppor-
tunity being afforded him of making astronomical ob-
servations with John Wilson (son of the Rev. Mr.
Wilson) a youth of great promise and talent, and the
present Sir Joseph Senhouse then at the same school,
who has since considerably distinguished himself as
a man of science.

It has generally been observed that such men as
have, by means of their extraordinary talents, arrived
at elevated situations and consequence in the world,
from humble birth, have emitted some sparks of ge-
nius in their infancy, announcing their future emi-
nence. The subject of this memoir is known to have
given very signal proofs of precocious talent and per-
severing application, of which the following anecdotes
are illustrative : for the first of them the author is in-
debted to the recollection of his friend Sir Joseph
Senhouse.

Being in a boat, and observing the great labour of
the rowers, it forcibly struck his mind that a machine
might be invented to propel the boat forward by

3

operating on the oars, and thereby supersede the ne-
cessity of manual labour; he lost no time in endea-
vouring to make one on this principle, and actually
succeeded so far as to construct a little boat which
rowed itself by means of some machinery within it,
impelled by a spring. This invention was certainly
short of perfection ; nevertheless, as the production of
a school-boy, it evinced a strong mechanical turn
which eventually produced most important results.

About the same time a flour-mill was erecting at
Allonby, and the attention of our youth was caught
by its mechanism : it occurred to him that he could
construct similar machinery himself; he accordingly
followed the workmen in their progress, and by the
time they had completed their task, the youth pro-
duced his mill in miniature, the work of his own
hands, which proved an accurate imitation and was
set going with the original.

Machinery was not the only species of mechanics
on which the mind of young Huddart was bent ; his
attention was even thus early attracted towards Ship-

a 2

4

building also, which to the latest period of his life
was his favorite study, although much interrupted by
other useful undertakings in which he was engaged,
and which more immediately pressed on his attention.

Having met with a “ Treatise on Ship-building and
Navigation, by Mungo Murray,” published in 1754,
he was so delighted with the accurate delineation and
clear style of that work, that he commenced building
the model of a seventy-four gun ship, exactly accord-
ing to the rules and directions therein laid down, with
all the ribs, planks, bolts, rigging, &c. &c. of a real
vessel; this model he completed with indefatigable
labour and perseverance ; it is still in the possession
of the family, and is esteemed by every navigator w ho
has seen it, as a surprising instance of juvenile talent
and assiduity, particularly when it is considered that
he had not at that time seen a ship of war.

These and other more serious occupations did not
prevent his amusing himself with the lighter and
more fascinating study of music ; he was particularly
fond of it, and without any instruction whatever, but

5

merely from application and assiduity, he made con-
siderable progress in this agreeable science ; he could
play on the violin, harpsichord, and flute.

Several other anecdotes might be adduced, but as
the inventions and amusements of a school-boy can-
not be generally interesting, these may suffice.

It was the intention of Mr. Huddart (the father of
the gentleman whose life we are now recording) that
his son should be educated for the church ; the mind
of the youth had however taken a strong bias to other
pursuits ; he evinced thus early an anxious desire to
embrace a sea-faring life, sharpened probably by fre-
quent opportunities of indulging this taste owing to
the vicinity of the sea. In the year 1756 the follow-
ing circumstance occurred, which confirmed him in
his choice.

Great shoals of herrings having come into the Sol-
way Firth, Mr. Huddart and some of his respectable
neighbours formed a Company for the purpose of
extending the fisheries there, and erecting the neces-
sary buildings for curing fish; in this concern, the

6

subject of this memoir was consequently much and
actively engaged, particularly in the catching of them ;
he had thus an opportunity not only of indulging in,
and permanently establishing his previous predilec-
tion for the sea, but also of acquiring a dawn of that
practical knowledge which proved the harbinger of
his subsequent celebrity.

In the year 1762 his father died, by which event
he succeeded to his father’s interest in the fishery ; on
this occasion he took the command of a small brig for
the purpose of conveying to Ireland the fish cured by
the Company.

Although his leisure moments were chiefly devoted
to the study of Ship-building and Astronomy, yet in
his coasting voyages he availed himself of every fa-
vorable opportunity to survey the coasts, roadsteds,
and harbours; this he found of great utility, when
lie undertook the important survey of St. George’s
Channel, a few years afterwards.

In this year (1762) he married the younger daugh-
ter of Mr. Johnston of Cowper, a respectable, though

7

small landed proprietor ; the issue of this marriage
was five sons, two of whom died in their infancy ; of
the surviving- three, the eldest and youngest (William
and Johnston) adopted their father’s profession; they
paid the tribute of nature before him ; the other,
named Joseph, is now the only survivor.

In the year 1763, the shoals of herrings having
wholly left the Firth, Mr. Huddart directed his views
to other objects, and took the command of a brig
belonging to a relation, as a temporary employment,
until he had an opportunity of building one for him-
self at Maryport : this undertaking he accomplished
in the course of the year 1768, according to a model
of his own, personally contributing with unwearied
exertion to its completion, and moulding every timber
with his own hands. In this vessel he traded success-
fully to North America on his own account, making
an annual voyage to that country, and filling up the
intermediate time in the coal trade to Ireland.

The experience he had acquired in the coasting
trade, enabled him to embark with safety in more

O

8

extended concerns, and to rely with confidence on his
own calculations: the following incident fully exem-
plifies this observation. Being about to sail on his
first voyage to America, his friends were naturally
apprehensive that through inexperience he might not
reach his destined port in safety ; they therefore en-
gaged a person to embark with him, who had fre-
quently made the voyage. Mr. Huddart’s observa-
tions and reckoning induced him to believe that the
first land they made was the very port they were
bound to ; the experienced person however who ac-
companied him, insisted that it was not, and that the
coast had quite a different appearance ; Mr. Huddart
knew better, his accuracy enabled him to sail at once
into the river; his guide was then, and not till then,
reluctantly obliged to acknowledge his mistake.

In the year 1771, being in London on a visit to
his paternal uncle, he was introduced by him to Sir
Richard Hotham, who had married his uncle’s eldest
daughter. Sir Richard was a Ship-owner, and hus-
banded two ships in the Honorable East India Com-

o

9

pany’s service: Mr. Huddart accompanied him to
Dudman’s yard, to see a ship he was there building
for the Company’s service ; at the same time, they in-
spected several other Indiamen. Sir Richard was so
much pleased with the judicious remarks Mr. Huddart
made on this occasion, as to express a strong desire
that he should relinquish his present pursuits, and
enter into the Company’s service, intimating that he
could not fail of meeting with great encouragement
and success. Mr. Huddart, however, finding that by
the existing regulations of the Company, he could
not enter into a higher station than fourth officer, and
feeling his situation in his own vessel very comfort-
able and independent, at that time declined the pro-
posal.

In the year 1773, on his return from one of his
voyages to North America, he received a pressing
invitation from Sir Richard Hotham to revisit London;
this he complied with, and Sir Richard proposed to
him that he should enter the Company’s service as
fourth officer in the York, then nearly ready for

B

10

launching/ bound to St. Helena and Bencoolen ; en-
gaging, as an inducement, that he should succeed to
the command of that ship, upon the resignation of
Captain Hayter, and without purchase. Notwith-
standing the apparent advantages of this olfer, Mr.
Huddart was little inclined to accept it, not seeing
any pecuniary benefit likely to accrue immediately
from such a change in his situation, as many of the
captains and officers were losing money at that time
by their private trade. Being, however, urged by
some of his particular friends, he acceded to Sir
Richard’s proposal so far, as to try one voyage, put-
ting a Master into the command of his own vessel until
his return, when he could, if he judged it necessary,
resume his former occupation; he accordingly entered
into the Company’s service in October, and sailed
from the Downs on Christmas eve 1773.

In the progress of this voyage Mr. Huddart invari-
ably pursued the bent of his genius, occupying his
leisure time in scientific pursuits : he made many use-
ful surveys, particularly on the west coast of Sumatra.

11

The York returned to England in October, 1775,
after a very successful voyage for the owners; the
markets were, however, so bad that the officers lost
by their private trade, and Mr. Huddart on settling
his accounts, found that the loss on his investment
amounted to <£120; this inauspicious commencement
induced him to relinquish all thoughts of remaining
longer in the service ; he therefore continued with the
York only until she was cleared, and the stores de-
livered ; he then returned to his family at Allonby,
and resumed the command of his own vessel.

The contentions in America having at this period
assumed a serious aspect, Mr. Huddart was prevented
making his annual voyage to that country ; he there-
fore confined himself to the coal trade from Maryport
to Ireland until October 1776, when, at the request
of Sir Richard Hotham, he undertook to superintend
the curing of provisions at Cork for his ships in the
Company’s service ; when these were ready, he ship-
ped them on board his own vessel, and arrived in
London in December.

b 2

12

At this time Mr. Sayer, an eminent chart-seller
in Fleet-street, having heard of the surveys made by
Mr. Huddart, obtained his permission to publish those
of the Sumatra coast, and at the same time engaged
him to complete a survey of St. George’s Channel, of
which there was then no accurate chart : for this pur-
pose, Mr. Huddart procured a small vessel, having
again put a Master into his own for a voyage to
Memel, and as soon as the season permitted he pro-
ceeded to the Channel. This was an undertaking of
no ordinary moment; it required all the perseverance,
energy, and indefatigable industry, which a firm con-
fidence in his own talents and qualifications could
alone inspire ; it was an undertaking in which strong-
corporeal as well as mental exertions were indispen-
sable; and that the selection of the individual em-
ployed on this occasion was judicious, is manifested by
the complete accuracy of the work, which, from long
experience, has received the sanction and approbation
of all navigators in that Channel. The emolument
derived from this undertaking was inconsiderable.

13

the celebrity acquired by it \vas great, and Mr. Hud-
dart must have felt himself highly gratified in con-
templating the beneficial consequences resulting to
navigation, from the exertion of his superior talents in
this important and invaluable survey. He completed
the survey in the summer of 1777.

The vessel before alluded to as building at Dud-
man’s yard., was lost in her first voyage homeward
bound, having struck on some rocks on the coast
of Pelowar on the 17th of December 1773, upon
which Sir Richard Hotham petitioned the Court of
Directors for leave to build another in her place ; this
he found considerable difficulty in prevailing on the
Court to accede to ; however, he at length obtained
leave, in great measure through the influence and in-
terest of Mr. Dingwal (who had also married a daugh-
ter of Mr. Huddart’s uncle, and the sister of Lady
Hotham) upon the condition that Mr. Huddart should
succeed to the command of the new ship without pur-
chase on the first vacancy, — an event very likely soon
to occur from the declining health of Captain Barrow

14

who had commanded the ship which was lost, and
was subsequently appointed to the command of the
new one, afterwards called the Royal Admiral. In
consequence of this arrangement, Mr. Huddart ac-
cepted the situation of chief officer in that ship ; he
went into Cumberland, sold his vessel, settled his
other concerns there, and on his return in August
took a lodging in Deptford, where the Royal Admiral
was then building, in order more minutely to inspect
the finishing and fitting out of that ship. Ship build-
ing having always been a favorite pursuit with him,
his whole time and attention were devoted to this
object, and he had the satisfaction of seeing her com-
pleted entirely according to his own wishes.

This vessel was chartered for Bombay, and sailed
from the Downs on the 27th of April 1778 ; she
put into Portsmouth, where Captain Barrow, whose
health had long been declining, died ; upon which, as
had been previously agreed on, the Court of Directors
was petitioned to appoint Mr. Huddart to the com-
mand ; this was with some difficulty complied with,

15

as he had only performed one voyage previously to
India in the Company’s service,, the regulations re-
quiring that two at least should be made.

The command thus devolved on Mr. Huddart, but
under such peculiar circumstances as prevented him
from reaping the usual pecuniary advantages from it ;
for he was under the necessity of taking charge of
Captain Barrow’s investment, of the profits on which,
together with every other incidental benefit accruing
to the commander, he had to render an account to
the executors ; thus, though saddled with the heavy
charge and responsibility of the command, he could
only enjoy the profits arising from his own private
trade as chief officer; and perhaps it should be ob-
served that, in the management of this trust, he ac-
quitted himself to the entire satisfaction of Captain
Barrow’s executors. He arrived in the Downs, after
a successful voyage, on the 13th January, 1780.

On this voyage he took out his eldest son William
as Midshipman, being then seventeen years of age.
During the passage outward bound. Captain Huddart

16

and his son met with an accident which had nearly
proved fatal to both. As the ships were nearing the
Cape of Good Hope, the Colebrook, one of the con-
voy, struck against an unknown sunken rock, by
which misfortune she was so much damaged that all
efforts to keep her above water were unavailing ; she
sunk about six hours afterwards, only affording time
for the other ship’s boats to receive her passengers
and crew, who were saved with the exception of
about twenty persons. On their arrival at the Cape,
Captain Huddart, with his characteristic desire for
investigation, attempted to ascertain the true situa-
tion of this rock, which was hitherto unknown even
to the Dutch ; for this purpose he got a Dutch pilot,
and a boat from the Resident, and attended by his
ow n pinnace, proceeded with his son and a few other
officers to survey it; to effect this it was necessary
previously to land, in order to get the true situation
of the headland and some adjacent rocks, &c. w hich
lay above w ater : as the surf ran high, they rested
on their oars until it appeared safe to land, when

17

they attempted to pull in ; then, as he himself stated,

without the least warning, a high breaker tower-
ing up, in less than three seconds of time .upset the
pinnace;” being sensible of the danger, he sprung
from the boat, which being perceived by his son who
was steering it, he jumped out also, and getting upon
his father’s back. Captain Huddart in this situation
swam with that surf about fifty or sixty yards; on its
return, having fortunately got ground, he was en-
abled to withstand it, and eventually landed safe ;
seven people were covered in the boat, who, by their
own exertions, and the assistance he afforded them as
soon as he was able, were all fortunately saved. The
only loss sustained on this occasion, which might have
proved so fatal, was that of their instruments and
firelocks.

Captain Huddart did not remain long in England ;
he again sailed from the Downs June 3d, 1780, for
Bombay ; on his arrival there, owing to the war, the
Royal Admiral was put under the orders of Admiral
Sir Edward Hughes : whilst acting with the British

c

18

fleet., he was engaged in the reduction of Jagginault-
poram and Negapatam, two Dutch settlements, and
was otherwise actively employed for about two years
in the king’s service : he did not arrive in the 'Downs
from this voyage till August 25th, 1783.

This voyage, from Captain Huddart’s having been
detained so long in India in consequence of the war,
was as unprofitable to himself as the former one ; and
it being now ten years since he first entered the Com-
pany’s service, he found on examining the state of
his affairs, that he had but in a very trivial degree
increased his property. A brighter prospect was
now howTever about to dawn, which in some measure
recompensed him for a life hitherto attended with
various hardships, and trying vicissitudes.

The Directors have the sole appointment of the
voyages, beginning with the Chairman, who has the
first nomination ; this privilege was attended on this
occasion with a fortunate result to Captain Huddart,
whose independence of mind was such, that he always
revolted at the idea of soliciting favors, or exposing

19

himself to obligations ; his worthy friend Sir Henry
Fletcher, who then tilled the Chair, kindly and volun-
tarily (no application whatever having been made to
him) appointed him to one of the Bombay and China
voyages, then considered the best ; this may be fairly
noticed as a proof of highly disinterested friendship,
and it should be recorded in honor of that upright
character, that, on Captain Huddart’s return, he could
not prevail on him to accept a pipe of choice wine
selected purposely for him at Madeira, as a small
token of acknowledgement for his disinterested and
liberal kindness. Captain Huddart sailed from the
Downs on the 27th of March 1784, and returned to
England in April 1786.

In this voyage he was very successful, and as he
himself was known to observe, this was the first
moment that he could say he had benefitted by enter-
ing the Company’s service, thirteen years before.”

During the passage. Captain Huddart was fortunate
enough to fall in with the “ Basses de India,” a ridge
of rocks, the true position of which was not until this

c 2

20

period known with sufficient accuracy : finding him-
self about the latitude where he might expect them,
he sent the pinnace a-head to reconnoitre, when,
about eight o’clock on a fine clear morning, he was
rejoiced to observe the signal for soundings, on which
lie took the necessary measures for an accurate ob-
servation, and he was thus enabled to lay down their
true situation with unerring precision, as appears by
his survey.

On his arrival in the Downs he received the afflict-
ing intelligence of the death of Mrs. Huddart ; she
died on the 12th of February 1786, at Allonby, after
a very long and painful illness.

His youngest son, Johnston, then fourteen years
of age, accompanied him on this voyage as Midship-
man. His eldest son, William, having been with him
the two preceding voyages, he naturally wished to
promote him, but as he could not with propriety ad-
vance him in the Royal Admiral over his own officers,
he got him appointed second officer with Captain
Frazer in the Mansfield, to Bengal, which vessel re-

21

turned to England in September 1785. At this time,
the York being chartered for an extra voyage to
St. Helena and China, Sir Richard Hotham very
kindly nominated him to the command, an offer too
flattering to a young man only twenty-two years old,
to be resisted, although his state of health was such
as almost to induce him to decline it; he however
did accept it, and proceeded on his voyage ; the event
but too well justified his apprehensions, and the'trust
he undertook, bringing with it much fatigue and
anxiety, probably hastened the melancholy catastrophe-
which soon followed ; his health gradually growing-
worse, he died in China on the 30th March 1787, and
was buried at Macao.

The following Letter from John Henry Cox, Esq.
to Mr. Mills, Purser of the York, exemplifies the high
estimation in which this amiable young man was held.

Canton , 4 th April, 1787.

Dear Sir,

1 have just now received yours of the 31st March
last from on board the York in Macao Roads, con-

22

firming the melancholy intelligence of the death of
Captain William Iluddart ; I do assure you that none
of his friends can more sincerely deplore this unfor-
tunate and untimely event than myself, having, during
the little time I enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaint-
ance, conceived a very great regard and friendship for
him ; this, together with the respect I bear to his
father, had determined me before the receipt of your
letter to pay all possible honor to his memory, and
to have a handsome marble tablet placed over his
.grave, with a short and suitable inscription. I expect
to set off for Macao this afternoon, and will imme-
diately upon my arrival give the necessary orders for
this purpose : should his friends in England be de-
sirous of having any particular inscription placed over
his tomb, they may be assured of their wishes on this
head being most punctually attended to. With respect
to any expenses that may be incurred in carrying these
intentions into execution, I shall insist upon being
permitted to bear them myself, accepting with a me-
lancholy satisfaction this opportunity of testifying my

23

regard and attachment to so amiable and valuable a
character as was that of your friend.

I remain, dear Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

John Henry Cox.

The death of this beloved son was a severe afflic-
tion to his father; he was a youth of great promise
and abilities, and had made considerable progress in
science under his paternal instruction. Captain Hud-
dart, communicating this melancholy event to a friend,
after enumerating the many excellent qualities of his
son, remarked that it was the first and only time in
a life of hardships and vicissitude in which he had
repined at the dispensations of Providence, but that
he hoped the Almighty in his infinite mercy would
forgive him.”

On the return of the York to England, it appeared
there was a loss on his son’s private trade amounting
to about £700 ; from a strong sense of probity, and
respect to the memory of a beloved son, he would not

24

allow the creditors to suffer this loss, and although
at that time limited in his fortune, and in no manner
whatever bound, or expected to liquidate it, he very
honorably and handsomely discharged the whole
amount.

We are now arrived at that period when Captain
Huddart made his last voyage to India, being the
fourth in the Royal Admiral ; she was now stationed
by the Court of Directors to Madras and China, and
sailed from the Downs on the 20th January 1787, and
returned to England after another prosperous voyage
in July 1788.

Captain Huddart had now been constantly navi-
gating for twenty-five years, reckoning from the time
he took the command of a Brig in 1763, and it may
be mentioned as a striking proof of his foresight and
prudence, under the protection of a kind Providence,
that, during the entire of this period, he never met
with any serious disaster. The following anecdote
illustrative of the principle on which he always acted,
has been communicated to the author by a friend.

\

25

Having on one occasion received his despatches for
Europe from the Governor and Council at Bombay,
he set sail, together with several other vessels, a fair
wind and fine weather promising a happy voyage:
two or three days afterwards, he returned singly to
port; the Governor, astonished and dissatisfied, sharply
remonstrated with him for not keeping at sea as the
others did, and said he would write to the Court of
Directors to represent his conduct. The appearance
of bad weather which induced Captain Huddart to
take this step, was followed by one of the most
violent storms ever remembered there, and which
strewed the coast with the wrecks of the vessels that
had sailed with him : when this tremendous storm had
subsided, and Captain Huddart saw he could pro-
ceed with safety on his voyage, he called at the
Government House to take leave; and accosting the
Governor jocularly, said "Governor, I am now ready
to sail, and only wait for your letter to the Court of
Directors.”

On his arrival in England he found Sir Richard

D

Hotham very desirous of retiring from his shipping
interests; he was then in treaty for the sale of the
Royal Admiral, but found he could not dispose of it
with advantage, unless he could also sell the com-
mand. Captain Huddart had then no intention of quit-
ting the Company’s service, but as he had on many
occasions experienced the kindness of Sir Richard, he
consented to withdraw from it, thus to enable him
the more easily to accomplish his views; an agree-
ment was accordingly entered into, by which Sir
Richard engaged to give Captain Huddart £*1000,
as a compensation for the command ; a sum so very
inadequate to its value, as clearly to exemplify Cap-
tain Huddart’s easiness of disposition, and indifference
to the acquirement of wealth ; for in computing the
value of this ship, £8000 was paid to Sir Richard for
the command alone.

Thus Captain Huddart retired from the Company's
service, having been engaged in it for the space of
fifteen years, ten of which he served as commander
in the Royal Admiral.

27

After Captain Huddart’s return from this his last
voyage, he obtained for his son Johnston the appoint-
ment of third officer on board the Princess x\melia.
When this vessel returned to England in 1794, John-
ston Mas in a very delicate state of health, being-
threatened with that dreadful malady a consumption,
which proceeded from a neglected cold caught during
the voyage ; he w as advised to try a milder climate, and
towards the close of that year went through Germany
to Italy, and died at Leghorn on the 29th January
following, aged twenty-four years. This was another
trying affliction to his father ; he was a young man
of superior talents, very amiable in his disposition and
engaging in his manners ; his remains were interred
in the burial-ground of the British factory, where a
marble monument is erected to his memory.

During the period of Captain Huddart’s being en-
gaged in the Company’s service, it may be supposed
that a person of his genius and active mind would
have many opportunities of exercising his talents in
the wide field laid open for their employment in the

d 2

28

eastern hemisphere; of these he never fai led to avail
himself, having employed every leisure interval in
hydrographical and astronomical pursuits.

From the great knowledge he had acquired in
Astronomy, he was enabled, by the eclipse of Jupiter’s
satellites, to ascertain the longitude of Bombay with
greater precision than had been done by any former
geographer.

He observed an annular and central eclipse of the
sun when at China ; lie went some distance to accom-
plish this object, and thus determined with great ac-
curacy the longitude.

Together with several other Surveys, he completed
one of the whole Peninsula from Bombay to Coringo,
also one of the River Tigris from Canton to the
island of Sankeet, for which last in particular, and for
his exertions in improving the navigation to and from
the East Indies and China, he received the thanks of
the Court of Directors in a letter dated the 28th of
October, 1786.

The wonderful perseverance and indefatigable in-

29

dustry of Captain Huddart, the caution he evinced in
adopting any conclusion, however desirous he was of
arriving at it, until he had thoroughly investigated
♦he principles on which it was founded, were the great
causes of rendering his labours substantially useful.

On retiring from an active sea-faring life he pur-
chased a house in that healthy and elevated situation,
Highbury Terrace, distant only three miles from Lon-
don, where he erected an observatory, and furnished
it with choice instruments for the purpose of making
celestial observations; this agreeably divided his lei-
sure moments with a workshop fitted up with a forge,
lathe, &c. ; thus gratifying the taste for astronomical
and mechanical pursuits so congenial to his mind.

The mechanism of clocks and watches had always,
and early attracted his attention. The following
anecdote, which should perhaps have been sooner
inserted, may now be mentioned as illustrative of this.
On his first visit to London, when a boy, walking
with his uncle through St. Jame’s Park, a day or two
after his arrival, a man having the appearance of a

tradesman, touched his hat to him; 'f You surely
cannot know that man,” said his uncle;” " Yes,”
replied the youngster, “ he belongs to Westminster
Abbey, I gave him sixpence yesterday to shew me the
works of the great clock.”

This branch of mechanism he continued to take
great delight in ; he frequently cleaned and repaired
his own clocks and watches, taking the works to
pieces, and putting them together again, as if he had
served an apprenticeship to the art ; at a late period
of his life he made the pendulum of the astronomical
clock in his own observatory, for the purpose of ob-
taining accurate astronomical observations.

In the year 1790 he was employed in the important
survey of Hasbro’ Gatt.

In 1791 the Trinity Corporation, duly appreciating
the importance of the services he had rendered to
navigation in general, and at the same time desirous
of securing to that Corporation the advantages of his
superior talents, elected him an Elder Brother ; from
this time till his last illness, — a period of twenty-live

31

years, he was one of the most active members of that
useful establishment. During- this period, his attention
was constantly directed to the improvement and se-
curity of the coasting navigation, the erection of light-
houses, &c., and among many others, that of the
Longships, in the constructing of which his utmost
abilities were called forth : on this occasion the Trinity
Corporation unanimously voted him their thanks, as
expressed in the following Resolution.

At a General Court of the Corporation of Trinity
House, held on Thursday the 8th October, 1795,
Resolved unanimously,

“ That the thanks of this Court be returned to
Captain Joseph Huddart for the important services
“ he has rendered to this Corporation, and to Navi-
“ gation in general, by proceeding twice this year
“ from London to the Land’s End, and there direct-
ing the completion, and proper exhibition of the
“ Light on the rocks called the Longships, and in
“ devising with the utmost ingenuity, a method of

32

" fixing poles or beacons on the Wolf Rock, and
“ Rundle Stone, by which such beacons are now
rf erected in the best and most permanent manner,
ff after all the various modes of placing them, pursued
for a great length of time by Lieutenant Smith and
rr his agents had proved ineffectual ; And also for the
directions Captain Huddart has formed for ships
tc sailing by this light, and the poles or beacons, with
a sketch of the same, and the land, which are de-
signed with the greatest accuracy, and executed in
Cf the neatest manner.

“ By Command of the Corporation,

“ David Court.”
In this year, 1791, Captain Huddart was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society. Among other papers
written by him, and presented to this Society, as may
be seen in the Philosophical Transactions,” were
the following.

c‘ An account of Persons who could not distinguish
colours:” in a letter to the Rev. Joseph Priestley,
LL D. F.R.S. See Appendix, A.

33

“ Observations on Horizontal Refractions which
affect the appearance of terrestrial objects, and the
dip, or depression of the horizon of the sea.” This
communication was read in November, 1796, ordei'ed
to be printed, and the thanks of the Society voted to
him. See Appendix, B.

When it was determined to commence that great
national undertaking the London Docks, Captain ‘
Huddart, having established his well earned fame as
an Engineer, was solicited to become a Director, the
projectors being desirous of procuring the advantage
of his talents in their construction : he accepted the
office, and took a most active part in the plan and
execution of these extensive works. Soon after this,
it was resolved to erect Docks for the accommo-
dation of the East India trade. Captain Huddart
became a Director of this undertaking also, and
contributed materially to the plan and construction
of them ; the honor of laying the first stone of this
important work was delegated to him, in the absence
of the Right Honorable William Pitt, who had en-

E

34

ffaired to do it, but who was from some cause pre-
vented attending.

The period now arrived (1799) when the atten-
tion of Captain Huddart was particularly called to an
object, the furtherance of which he had long had it in
contemplation to attempt.

During the time he was engaged in the East India
service, he had frequently observed great imperfec-
tions in the manufacture of cordage, especially in
cables and the larger ropes, by which many lives and
much valuable property were unnecessarily exposed
to danger; his attention had, therefore, been early
given to the discovery of some principle by which
deficiencies so apparent might be remedied ; and his
inventive genius, aided by his sound mechanical and
mathematical attainments, was not long in pioducing
the most valuable improvement in cordage.

Soon after the subject of this memoir quitted the
sea, he explained his plan, and described the principle
of his improvement in cordage to Mr. Barnes, a rope-
maker in Maryport, Cumberland, and there personally

35

assisted in the first experiments. Mr. Barnes being a
gentleman of confined capital, and Maryport a place
of small trade, it was not probable that his improve-
ments could there be extensively applied ; but, the
advantageous employment, in the neighbouring col-
lieries, of some ropes made under Captain Huddart’s
immediate inspection, satisfied him that the principle
on which they were constructed was a real improve-
ment in the manufacture.

His anxiety to forward every object connected with
the maritime interest of his country, induced him to
offer his invention to the East India Company for its
adoption by their rope manufacturers, who declined it
on the absurd and illiberal principle of not altering
what had been long practised, expressing at the same
time a difficulty in attempting a change in the manu-
facture of an article so particularly in the power of
their workmen.

Hence the improvement lay dormant six or seven
years, and might have remained so much longer, had
it not been suggested to Captain Huddart by some

e 2

36

gentlemen wholly unconnected with the manufacture
of cordage, that they were ready to adopt the prin-
ciple in all its parts, provided he would superintend
the erection of the necessary buildings and machinery,
and that they would agree to such terms of remune-
ration as he might require ; to which he readily re-
plied that, as the success of such an establishment
must be doubtful, he was not desirous of an arrange-
ment by which he, the inventor, must be the only
certain gainer ; that, unwilling as he was generally to
embark in trade, he would nevertheless provide his
equal proportion of capital, and bear his chance of
success or failure in the proposed undertaking.

In consequence of this, land was immediately pur-
chased, and buildings were erected ; machinery was
constructed under Captain Huddart’s immediate atten-
tion, and every wheel, and every shaft were laid down
by his order.

This engagement commenced in the latter part of
the year 1799, and continued till the hour of his death.

In the early part of the year 1800, the machinery

37

•

was ready, and the first cordage manufactured by it,
was a cable of large dimension. From the moment
the machinery was put in action, there could remain
no doubt of its success ; and indeed so correct was
it, as originally invented by Captain Huddart, that
no improvement up to the hour in which this memoir
is written, has been suggested in its principle, which
is that of making every component part of the rope
bear its proportion of strain.

It is not requisite here, neither would it suit the
brevity of this memoir, to enter into the various sug-
gestions which at times presented themselves to the
fertile mind of Captain Huddart, to give the utmost
effect to the principle of his invention ; but it may be
gratifying to the readers of this memoir to know some-
thing of the cause and construction of the latest and
lar gest part of the machinery erected at the manufac-
tory at Limehouse, which, in point of stupendous and
beautiful mechanism, aided by the soundest mathe-
matical calculation, stands unrivalled in this or any
other country, with the exception of the steam engine.

38

the invention of Captain Huddart’s friend and cotem-
porary, the celebrated Mr. Watt.

For some years after the establishment of the works.
Captain Huddart adopted machinery only so far as to
carry the principle into effect by putting each yarn
in the strand (or part composing the rope) into its
proper place, the strands were afterwards laid into a
rope or cable, by workmen in the ordinary way ; now,
although the greatest attention was given by the fore-
man, that this part should be carefully executed, so
that the cordage produced was very far superior to
any hitherto manufactured, still Captain Huddart saw
the inconveniences which might arise, and the ease
by which his improvement might be thwarted, by
the inattention of workmen ; he therefore constructed
machinery by which the strands were laid into ropes,
and the ropes closed into cables, thus perfecting his
invention, and producing a manufacture equal and
complete in all its parts.

This machinery, capable of making cables for the
largest ship in the navy, was erected wholly from

39

drawings made and constructed by Captain Huddart
himself, the various parts were wrought on the spot
under his own immediate attendance, and so perfectly
and completely had he arranged the whole, that, ex-
tensive as it is, and combining so many parts as it
does, no alteration was necessary ; the cordage first
made by it was complete, and till this moment no
addition to, or deviation from its original construction
has been found requisite.

Thus was perfected an invention of the highest
possible consequence, and Captain Huddart had the
satisfaction of knowing that, in sixteen years expe-
rience, no one reasonable instance had occurred of
complaint or defectiveness in the cordage manufac-
tured by the machinery of his own constructing.

During the period this object was attaining. Captain
Huddart found time to forward another improvement
connected with naval affairs, and which was in the
important science of naval architecture.

He had long observed the great deficiency of scien-
tific knowledge in the construction of the forms of

40

ships, and about the year 1797 he built a vessel at
Maryport, for the purpose of trying some experi-
ments which he then caused to be made. About the
year 1802 he brought this vessel to London, and after
making such alterations as furthered the object he had
in view, he disposed of her, and commenced an exten-
sive series of observations on the important points of
the motion and resistance of bodies in fluids.

These experiments were made with great personal
labour, and at much expense ; and after a very care-
ful and attentive consideration of the subject, he de-
termined to build another vessel to prove the result of
his labours.

This vessel was built at the ship-yard of his friend
Sir Robert Wigram ; the draft was drawn by himself,
every line was laid down, and every part completed
under his own immediate inspection ; and so accurate
had his experiments been, and so correct was his ma-
thematical knowledge, that this vessel most satisfac-
torily proved the truth of what he had done; she drew
precisely the draft of water he calculated, and her in-

41

creased deepening was in exact conformity with what
his calculations led him to expect ; she sailed too, and
performed in every way, according to his best hopes,
and he was much pleased in the prospect of adding
another important improvement to the navy.

Till within a very few months of his death, indeed
till the last hour his health would permit, he person-
ally assisted in experiments on this pursuit, and had
his life been spared, no doubt can be entertained
that he would have produced most valuable results ;
indeed, so completely and accurately had he in-
vestigated the material points connected with naval
architecture, that little more remained than to pu£
what he had done into form, and it was his full in-
tention to have laid down a ship of each class in the
navy, the construction of which he had no doubt of
improving, having regard to the objects of stowage
and defence, so as to increase the rate of sailing one
knot an hour.

The papers from which these results would have
been drawn are in the possession of his son, but it is

F

42

to be feared that, owing to the application by Cap.ain
Iluddart of his high mathematical knowledge and lan-
guage in noting the experiments, little can be made

of them.

Captain Huddart was always anxious to keep the
principles on which his results had been anived at,
from the eyes of foreigners ; and although he would
willingly have presented all his improvements to the
Admiralty, still he always expressed a determination
to have so done, with such injunctions as should have
prevented his various reasonings from being known j
and this he would have insisted on, fully satisfied that
the mathematicians of other countries connected with
their naval establishments, would readily have availed
themselves of the means by which the improvements
had been effected, and his great object, viz. that every
British Man of War should be superior to its enemy,

would have been defeated.

The works in which Captain Huddart was actively
engaged as- an Engineer were very numerous, but the
particulars of them the author of this memoir is not

4 3

well acquainted with ; it must therefore suffice to enu-
merate the few following, which he is enabled to do
from documents in his possession. It may, at the
same time, be observed that Captain Huddart was fre-
quently consulted by Government and by private in-
dividuals on various important works ; on these occa-
sions, he invariably gave his opinion and advice with
the utmost candour and liberality, without any other
view than that of promoting the public good.

In December, 1789, Captain Huddart received the
thanks of the Trustees of the harbour of Whitehaven
for his plan for the improvement of that harbour.

In March, 1791, the thanks of the Directors of the
British Society of Fisheries were voted to him for his
Survey and Chart of the islands and coast of Scot-
land.

In September, 1793, he received the thanks of the
Mayor and Corporation of Boston, for his Survey of
the harbour and river at that place, which were con-
veyed in a letter from Sir Joseph Banks; and at the
same time the Corporation presented him with a

f 2

44

handsome silver cup, as an acknowledgment of the
service thus rendered to them.

In November, 1794, Captain Huddart received the
thanks of the Commissioners of Customs for his sur-
vey of the port of Hull, with a view to the construc-
tion of a new Dock there.

In June, 1795, he received the thanks of the Trus-
tees of the harbour at Swansea for the important com-
munications made to them for the improvement of
that harbour, and which was carried into effect agree-
ably to his suggestions.

In March, 1796, after surveying the harbour of
St. Agnes, Cornwall, he furnished the Proprietors with
a plan for a new jetty. In the same year he surveyed
the harbour at Portsmouth.

In 1800, at the request of the Magistrates and
Council of Edinburgh, he surveyed the harbour at
Leith, and made a report thereon, dated November
the 3rd; his suggestions were approved and carried
into effect, for which he received their thanks, con-
veyed to him by the Right Hon. the Lord Provost.

45

In January, 1803, he received the thanks of the
Directors General of Inland Navigation for the “ Con-
sideration and Application” he gave to the improve-
ment of the harbour of Dublin.

In May, 1808, Captain Huddart surveyed Holy-
head, from which place he sent a report on the proper
situation for the erection of a light-house, and in con-
formity with his suggestions, that useful and import-
ant light-house on the South Stack was erected.

In the same year, he went to Ireland at the request
of Government, accompanied by Mr. Rennie, to sur-
vey and give an opinion respecting the propriety of
establishing a harbour at Howth for the accommoda-
tion of Packets, and at a subsequent period made
a report thereon.

In August of that year. Captain Huddart, Mr. Mylne,
and Mr. Rennie, at the request of the Navy Board,
gave in an able report on the improvement of His
Majesty’s Dock-yard at Woolwich, particularly with
regard to the accumulation of mud there.

In September, also, of that year, he again went to

46

Portsmouth, at the desire of Government, on account
of the projected improvements of the harbour, and
was accompanied by Mr. Mylne.

In August, 1812, Captain Huddart received the
thanks of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
for the assistance he gave in the survey of His Ma-
jesty’s Dock-yard at Sheerness.

He determined the boundaries of the Oyster fisheries
near Whitstable, which had been a subject of litiga-
tion for many years, the change in the magnetic poles
having altered the boundaries.

In the year 1809, Captain Huddart purchased the
ancient demesne of Brynkir in Caernarvonshire, and in
the two following years he added to his former pur-
chase the demesne of Wern, and other estates in the
same county ; this property he placed entirely under
the management and direction of his son. It is a sin-

a

gular circumstance, that he never saw the purchases
he had made ; he often talked of going into Wales,
but the pressure of numerous avocations obliged him
to postpone his visit from time to time, till at length

47

his health beginning to decline, he was under the ne-
cessity of relinquishing the intention altogether.

The writer of this memoir, anxious to give as ac-
curate a detail as possible of the late Captain Huddart’s
surveys, applied for information on the subject to Mr.
Laurie, who published many of his works ; in conse-
quence of this application, he received a letter from
that gentleman, of which the following is an extract.

Having mentioned your wishes to our geographer,
Mr. Purdy, he has sent the enclosed remarks, and as
no one is better qualified to give an opinion of your
late father’s nautical surveys, I hope they will give
you satisfaction.”

The following is the letter alluded to as received
from Mr. Purdy, which, from the accuracy, clearness,
and ability with which the subject is treated by
that distinguished and eminent geographer, the author
is induced to copy verbatim, and at the same time
to express his grateful acknowledgments for the ready
and polite attention paid by him to the application.

48

London, 1 6th April, 1818.
Sir,

Mr. Laurie has been pleased to refer to me the
expression of your wishes relative to the hydrographic
works of your honored parent, the late Captain Hud-
dart, and I sit down most willingly to fulfil them, —
not, indeed, with entire satisfaction, because inade-
quately qualified ; but with an earnest wish to do
justice to a subject affecting the reputation of a gen-
tleman whose character I have, for many years, held
in the highest respect.

I have read, with great pleasure, the biographic
notices of Captain Huddart which have appeared in
several periodic publications ;• particularly the memoir
given in the “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” wherein the
large Chart of St. George’s Channel is particularly
mentioned, as one of Captain Huddart’s first efforts in
the improvement of hydrography. This work, ori-
ginally dated on board the Royal Admiral, 31st March,
1778, still maintains its well established reputation;
.and, perhaps, requires no farther comment. It is

49

pleasant to find that, as the original survey, with re-
quisite additions, it is yet preferred to all the imita-
tions of it that have since been published.

The same remarks apply,- with at least equal force,
to the Chart of the western coasts and islands of
Scotland, which first appeared, and was dedicated to
the Society for the encouragement of the Fisheries,
between the years 1787 and 1794. This Chart,
in three sheets, comprises all the Coasts and Chan-
nels between the Mull of Can tire and Cape Wrath,
and is therefore to be considered as a continuation
of the preceding one of the Irish Sea. It possesses,
exclusively, the merit of rectifying the geography
of this part of the British Empire in all succeeding
works, particularly the large Maps of Scotland, &c.
Without its limits, and immediately without them,
error has still been found to commence. Mr. Colin
Lamont, a respectable mathematician of Greenock,
has furnished me with his esteemed testimony in its
favour. This gentleman has employed himself oc-
casionally, for many years past, in prosecuting an

G

50

extensive survey of the West of Scotland, and he
has particularly examined the points settled by Cap-
tain Huddart. It is expressed on the face of the
Chart that, the survey was carried on from obser-
vations made at Campbelltown, Tobermory, Cana,
Ullapool, Laxford, Stornaway, Glash, Namaddy, and
Barra, to determine the latitude and longitude by as-
tronomical instruments and chronometers, from which
a series of triangles, determined from the true meri-
dian, was carried on, to find the situation of the inter-
mediate places, &c.” Upon this Mr. Lamont has said,
fr As to the consistency of Captain Huddart’s results
in latitude, and my humble attempts, nothing ever
afforded me more genuine satisfaction than the almost
incredible coincidence of two observers, at distant
periods, total strangers to each other ; insomuch that,
of the ten or eleven different positions which he set-
tled in Scotland, and which are included in very nearly
five hundred that 1 have observed, none differ equal
to the breadth of the lines usually drawn on Maps or
Charts.”

51

The survey of the River Tigris, from Canton to the
island of Sankeet, is dated London, 10th of October,
1786, and comprises copious directions for the navi-
gation of that river, appearances of land, &c. To
these arc added the important determination of the
position of Canton, viz. Lat. 23° 6' 57" N. Lon. 113°
16' 15" E., as shewn in the Tables prefixed to the
Oriental Navigator , in 1816, and therein given, (from
reasonable conviction of its accuracy) in preference to
many other and later results, which have appeared to
the present time.

This is particularly noticed, because the mouth of
the Tigris is the grand point of departure for all
vessels bound from Canton to every part of the adja-
cent seas ; and, being finally settled, it serves for the
rectification of the whole.

In 1788, Captain Huddart made his sketch of the
Straits of Gaspar. It was published as merely a sketch,
yet its longitudes varied but four minutes from the
longitudes since adopted, and it afforded an important
rectification of the previously existing Charts, &c. of

g 2

this navigation. An improved edition lias been lately
published.

False Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope, was surveyed
by Captain Huddart in 1797. He had previously sur-
veyed Simon’s or Seamon’s Bay. Of False Bay there
is a new edition, with additions.

Captain Huddart also made some surveys of the
Road of Bencoolen, and of a part of the Western
Coasts of Sumatra, with the detail of which I am not
correctly acquainted ; and he, at different times, ma-
terially improved the “ Oriental Navigator,” or Di-
rectory for the East Indies, the volume to which the
Tables of Positions, composed by myself, are now-
affixed.

The Charts above mentioned are, as I believe, all
the larger Charts that the Captain published : but the
honorable testimony of Major Rennell has shown that
his active mind was occasionally engaged on other
important objects.

In the Preface to his Memoir of a Map of Hin-
doostan, this gentleman writes, rf By the aid of a

53

series of observations of latitude and longitude, taken
by Captain Huddart, along the Malabar Coast, or
Western Coast of India, the form of the peninsula is
now brought very near to the truth.” (Pref. page iv.)
And again, f< As Captain Huddart’s series of longitudes
commenced at Bombay, in lat. 18° 58', and were con-
tinued to Anjenga, in lat. 8° 39', and then back again
to Bombay, by which the error of his timekeeper
was ascertained, and which was only as much as
amounted to minutes of longitude, we have every
reason to be satisfied with this series, as far as respects
general positions : and, indeed. Geography is greatly
indebted to the labours of this gentleman, who has
presented us with the longitudes of sixteen places on
this coast, and by that means given the true general
figure of it, which exhibits, to those who have been in
the habit of contemplating it, a very different form
from what it ever did before.” (Memoir, edition of
1788, page 18.)

To this remark of Major Rennell it may be added
that the true longitude of Bombay appears to be 72°

54

58' E; Captain Huddart made it 72° 54': so that thus,
in all this extent of coast, the approximation was to
about four minutes, from the results of our best ob-
servers to the present day.

A remarkable instance of Captain Huddart’s merit
as an observer, occurs in Colonel Mudge’s account of
the Trigonometrical Survey. The Scilly Islands had
previously and generally been placed twenty minutes,
and more than twenty minutes, of longitude, to the
west of their true meridian. In a note on this subject.
Colonel Mudge says, In the Requisite Tables, pub-
lished by order of the Board of Longitude, the latitude
of the Scilly Lights is said to be 49° 56' 0", and lon-
gitude 6° 46' 0". The latitude, according to the sur-
vey, is 49° 53' 36" 8, and longitude 6° 19' 23" 4.
An error of 2' 23" in the latitude, may not perhaps
be considered extraordinary ; but how, in a maritime
country like our own, where chronometers are in such
constant use, so great an error as 26' 37" (lm 46^s in
time) in the longitude, should have remained un-
detected, excepting by one person, is surprising. J.

55

Huddart, Esq. visited the Scilly Isles, having with
him a watch made by Arnold, and obtained his time
at that spot in the island of St. Mary, where the body
of Sir Cloudesly Shovel is said to have been thrown
ashore, by means of equal altitudes of the Sun’s limb;
he then found, comparing his time with that shewn
by the watch, that 0h 25m 18s was the difference be-
tween the meridians of Greenwich and this spot in
St. Mary’s. Now St. Agnes’ light-house is about 2'
of a degree west of the place to which Mr. Huddart
alludes; therefore, 25' 18" + 8" =25' 26" is the lon-
gitude of St. Agnes, through these means; which
differs only 4s 5 in time, or a little mare than one
minute of longitude from that found by the survey .”

It would be superfluous for me to point out the
meritorious acts of Captain Huddart as an Elder
Brother of the Trinity House, or I might expatiate
considerably on the numerous and important services
which he has rendered to the country in that capacity.

It is well known that, so long as his health per-
mitted, he was one of the most active and useful

5G

members of that honorable and beneficial institution ;
and that, during this period, more improvement in
our light-houses, and other sea-marks, was made than
in any preceding, or than probably may be made in
any succeeding period of equal length. All were
improved, and many added, as those for the passage
of the Needles, &c.

In 1790, when the new Lights of Ilasborough, and
that off the Newarp were established, the adjacent
sea and shoals were accurately surveyed by Captain
Huddart, and a Chart was delivered, on paying light-
dues, to the northern Coasters, with complete direc-
tions, &c. This Chart gave the longitude of Yar-
mouth church, a most important position, which has
been adopted for all Maps and Charts since pub-
lished ; for, previously, the longitude of the coast of
Norfolk was unknown.

In 1794 the Light-vessel at the Owers was es-
tablished for the guidance of all vessels bound up
and down the English Channel, and especially those
bound in to Spithead, &c. ; and, in 1795, the still

57

more useful one oft’ the North Sand Head of the Good-
win. The description and uses of the latter were, I
presume, drawn up by Captain Huddart.

In the same year was established the very useful
Light-house of the Longships, near the Land’s End of
England, for the purpose of guiding vessels from the
numerous dangers in the vicinity of the Cornish coast.
This was aided by a similar description, with direc-
tions.

In 1802 a Floating Light was placed near the Sand
called the Sunk, in the King’s or North Channel of
the Thames’ mouth; a survey of the adjacent shoals
and passages was made by Captain Huddart; copies
of which, with directions, were distributed to the
Mariners in the Coasting Trade.

The year 1S06 saw the new and most useful Light-
house on Flainborough Head, on the coast of York-
shire, the environs of which were, in like manner, sur-
veyed and described by Captain Huddart.

In the West, the Light-house on the South Stack,
near Holyhead, was established in 1809.

u

58

The works of Captain Huddart, above enumerated,
are the principal that I have any knowledge of. They
are not numerous in proportion to their consequence,
for they have, in every instance, obviated glaring de-
ficiencies, they have filled up chasms of ignorance with
useful knowledge; and they have been, invariably,
the results of arduous exertion, most skilfully applied,
in situations and circumstances of peculiar danger and
difficulty ; for who but he would voluntarily have se-
lected the extremity of Africa, or the rugged cliffs of
Western Scotland, for the display of those talents
which might have been exhibited, in circumstances of
comparative safety, with more benefit to himself in
point of emolument, though proportionably with less
advantage to others. This evidently was not his ob-
ject ; and his motives seem to have been as pure, as
unsophisticated, as were his manners. He made no
parade of science, but he possessed it, and was parti-
cularly distinguished as one of our earliest Lunarians.
Thousands have reason to bless his name for that
safety which has been derived from his labours ; and

59

the Navigators of all nations, may consider it as sy-
nonymous with Benefactor.

I have the honor to be.

Sir,

Y our humble Servant,

John Purdy.

- 1

As Captain Huddart advanced in life, he was not
exempt from some of the usual infirmities of old age :
they were not such, however, as to prevent his fulfill-
ing several of the numerous duties which now pressed
on his attention ; he was always particularly zealous
in the performance of those which devolved on him
as an Elder Brother of the Trinity House Corpora-
tion, and as a Director of the London and East India
Docks; all the leisure moments he could spare from
these engagements, were devoted to the experiments
before alluded to, for the improvement of Ship-build-
ing, which, to the latest moment his health would
permit, he took the greatest possible interest in. The
farther he advanced into the vale of years, the more

h 2

his reputation anti celebrity increased, and the im-
portance attached to his opinion as an Engineer was
such, that the applications made to him by Govern-
ment and private individuals, exceeded what he could
have attended to, even though he had still been in the
possession of his former strength ; he was therefore
frequently obliged to decline them, and it no doubt
occasioned much regret to a person of his active and
benevolent disposition to find himself unable to com-
ply with those demands, knowing the good that must
have resulted from his labours; such, however, was
the will of Heaven.

We have now come to that period of our narrative
when the declining state of Captain Huddaits health
obliged him to forego all attention whatever to his
public duties ; he had persevered with an energy pe-
culiar to himself in his attention to those he considered
the most important, but he had now readied the limit
beyond which his strength could not cairj him. This
but too well foreseen and melancholy event occurred
in November 1815; when, finding his illness lapidly

61

augmenting, he made his will, arranged his affairs,
and desired that his son, then in Wales, should be
apprized of his situation : at this time his appetite
had almost left him, his strength was rapidly declin-
ing, and it was but too evident to his family and
friends, that he could not long survive. Dr. Babing-
ton. Sir William Blizard, Mr. Blizard, Sir Everard
Home, and Mr. Hole, attended him in the most assi-
duous and friendly manner, but all their efforts could
only prolong his valuable life a few months.

At an early period of his disorder, when it first as-
sumed a serious aspect, he turned his active and com-
prehensive mind to the study of the anatomy of the
human body, with which he soon made himself well
acquainted ; he kept an exact journal of every symp-
tom of his complaint, and of the medicine he daily
took : so long as he entertained any hopes of conquer-
ing his disorder, he was indefatigable in seconding the
efforts of his medical advisers, but at length his com-
plaint turning to a dropsy, he sunk under it after suf-
fering the operation of tapping twice.

62

From the commencement of his complaint,, he kept
an exact registry of his weight, and by weighing every
thing he took, together with what he lost, he marked
the progressive decay of his system ; he ascertained
by these means the exact quantity of weight carried
off by insensible perspiration and by the breath : these
minute calculations astonished his professional atten-
dants, particularly Dr. Babington, who frequently
told him that had he originally turned his attention to
physic he must have reached the top of the profession.

During his protracted illness his excellent and kind
friend Archdeacon Watson visited him frequently, and
about three weeks before his death administered the
holy Sacrament to him for the last time. .

Twelve hours previous to his decease, he lost in a
great measure his articulation, of which however he
was not himself sensible. He endeavoured, and ap-
peared very anxious to say something to his son,
which neither he nor the attendants could understand;
and, imagining that he did not speak loud enough.
Captain Huddart exerted his voice as much as his

63

■weak state would allow. The by-standers compre-
hended him so far as to learn that he could hear what
was said to him, and that he was surprized he could
not be heard by those around him. His son then
finding it necessary to apprize him lhat his articula-
tion was not so distinct as usual, he immediately made
signs for paper, pen, and ink, and being raised up in
the bed, he took the pen and wrote, — but alas ! the
few words he attempted could not be deciphered :
after this effort he was laid down again, and from
that time did not attempt to speak.

His illness had been so lengthened, and his suffer-
ings so severe, that his form was very much reduced,
and his strength quite exhausted. He had been, through
life, accustomed occasionally to weigh himself ; his
usual weight, for some years previous to his illness,
was about two hundred and twenty pounds : in the
month of January, seven months prior to his death,
he found himself weighing only one hundred and
thirty-four pounds; yet, notwithstanding his great
bodily weakness, he retained his faculties : he was

»

6 4

perfectly tranquil and resigned to the will of his Crea-
tor, and breathed his last apparently without much
pain, at nine o’clock a. m. on the 19th of August 1816.
He had expressed a wish to be buried at St. Martin’s
•church, Westminster, where his uncle and family were
interred : he desired his funeral might be private, men-
tioning a few particular friends only whom he wished
to be invited on the melancholy occasion, and on the
28th of August his mortal remains were deposited in
the vault of that church.

Captain Huddart was tall and muscular in his
person, and his countenance was benign, open, and
placid : he was a man of pure and untainted morals,
and was particularly temperate and abstemious in his
habits : although the greater part of his life was spent
in the maritime profession, he was never known to
have been even once intoxicated ; he was in general
an early riser, usually breakfasted at eight o’clock,
dined at one, drank tea at five, supped at eight, and
retired to bed at ten ; he was kind and benevolent to
all around him, iudeed his sole object through life

65

seemed to have been the good of his fellow creatures.
One of the greatest gratifications he experienced, as an
Elder Brother of the Trinity House Corporation, was
the opportunity afforded him of placing on the pension
list of that excellent institution, those deserving but des-
titute objects, old and decrepit Seamen (some of whom
he had perhaps known in early life), or their widows
and orphans; his loss was justly deplored as a great
calamity in his native county, Cumberland, to which
his benevolence had been more particularly directed.

Smoking tobacco was recommended to Captain
Huddart, when a young man, for a complaint on his
chest, and he thus acquired a habit in which he gene-
rally indulged ; it was his first occupation on rising,
occasionally during the day, and again before he re-
tired to rest. When his mind was engaged in serious
and deep reflection, his pipe was in more than usual
requisition ; his dress was disregarded, and he paid
no attention either to the quality or the regularity of
his meals ; occasionally he appeared absorbed in his
own thoughts ; if, at these times, a question was put

r

f)f>

io him, or an observation made by any of his family,
lie would continue to muse, seemingly not aware that
he had been addressed, and frequently, after a lapse
of many minutes, would turn to the person who had
accosted him, and reply.

His manners were simple and unaffected, and with
out appearance of conscious superiority. Though his
pursuits necessarily brought with them an extended ac-
quaintance, he rarely mixed in general society ; there
were comparatively few who enjoyed his intimacy ; to
these he was ever most friendly and communicative,
and in his own social family circle, where the tem-
per more freely developes itself, he displayed a perfect
equanimity of mind, and cheerfulness of disposition,
relating with good humour and satisfaction anecdotes
and incidents of his early life.

A handsome monument has been erected to his me-
mory in the Chapel of Ease at Allonby, the place ot his
nativity. The following inscription, illustrative of his
character and talents, and commemorative of the emi-
nent services rendered to his country, has been sup-
plied by the friend to whom this Memoir is dedicated.

-Sacreb to tfjc Jiemorp of

CAPTAIN JOSEPH IIUDDART, F.R.S.

Formerly of the

Honorable East India Company’s Service,

And one of the Elder Brethren of the Corporation of the Trinity House, London j

HE WAS BORN AT THIS PLACE

11th January, 1741,

AND DIED AT HIGHBURY TERRACE, NEAR LONDON,

August 19th, 1816.

He has left a memorial of his Fame far more lasting than this Monument,
in those numerous Works of Science by which he has done
Honor to his Country, benefitted Commerce,
and improved Navigation.

“ Unto whom much is given , of them shall much be required

And of him it may be truly said that the pre-eminent powers of his mind, and his
superior acquirements in Mathematics, Mechanics, and Astronomy,
were unceasingly devoted to the services of humanity,
by pointing out a

lEtore Secure $atfj in tfje aTracfttog Stop,

and by increasing the facilities,
and lessening the dangers of those who
16 go down to the sea in Shifts, and occufty their business in great waters .”

“ THESE MEN SEE THE WONDERS IN THE DEEP.”

They were stroDgly impressed on his capacious mind : he saw and acknowledged
in them the wondrous works of God,
and meekly trusting in the merits of his Saviour,
closed a life of unblemished integrity
in the 75th year of his age.

HIS ONLY SURVIVING SON

Erects this Monument in commemoration of those virtues,
which endeared him in all the relations of
private life.

APPENDIX. A.

An account of Persons who could not distinguish Co-
lours. By Mr. Joseph Huddart; in a Letter to the
Rev. Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S.

Read February 13th, 1777.

London, January 15 th} 1777.
Sir,

When I had the pleasure of waiting on you last
winter, I had hopes before now of giving you a more
perfect account of the peculiarity of vision which I
then mentioned to you, in a person of my acquaint-
ance in the North : however, if I give you now the
best I am able, I persuade myself you will pardon the
delay.

70

1 promised to procure you a written account from
the person himself, but this I was unfortunately dis-
appointed in, by his dying suddenly of a pleurisy a
short time after my return to the country.

You will recollect I told you that this person lived
at Maryport in Cumberland, near which place, viz. at
Allonby, I myself live, and having known him about
ten years, have had frequent opportunities of con-
versing with him. His name was Harris, by trade a
shoemaker. I had often heard from others that he
could discern the form and magnitude of all objects
very distinctly, but could not distinguish colours.
This report having excited my curiosity, I conversed
with him frequently on the subject. The account he
gave was this : That he had reason to believe other
persons saw something in objects which he could not
see; that their language seemed to mark qualities
with confidence and precision, which he could only
guess at with hesitation, and frequently with error.
His first suspicion of this arose when he was about
four years old. Having by accident found in the

71

street, a child’s stocking, lie carried it to a neighbour-
ing house to enquire for the owner: he observed the
people called it a red stocking, though he did not
understand why they gave it that denomination, as
he himself thought it completely described by being-
called a stocking. The circumstance, however, re-
mained in his memory, and together with subsequent
observations led him to the knowledge of his defect.
As the idea of colours is among the first that enters
the mind, it may perhaps seem extraordinary that he
did not observe his want of it still earlier. This, how-
ever, may in some measure be accounted for from the
circumstance of his family being Quakers, among
whom a general uniformity of colours is known to
prevail.

He observed also that, when young, other children
could discern cherries on a tree by some pretended
difference of colour, though he could only distinguish
them from the leaves by their difference of size and
shape. He observed also, that by means of this dif-
ference of colour they could see the cherries at a

72

greater distance than lie could, though he could see
other objects at as great a distance as they ; that is,
where the sight was not assisted by the colour. Large
objects he could see as well as other persons ; and
even the smaller ones if they were not enveloped in
other things, as in the case of cherries among the
leaves.

I believe he could never do more than guess the
name of any colour; yet he could distinguish white
from black, or black from any light or bright colour.
Dove or straw-colour he called white, and different
colours he frequently called by the same name : yet
he could discern a difference between them when
placed together. In general, colours of an equal de-
gree of brightness, however they might otherwise dif-
fer, he frequently confounded together. Yet a striped
ribbon he could distinguish from a plain one ; but he
could not tell what the colours were with any tolerable
exactness. Dark colours in general he often mistook
for black, but never imagined white to be a dark
colour, nor a dark to be a white colour.

73

He was an intelligent man, and very desirous of
understanding the nature of light and colours, for
which end he had attended a course of lectures in
natural philosophy.

He had two brothers in the same circumstances as
to sight ; and two other brothers and sisters who, as
well as their parents, had nothing of this defect.

One of the first mentioned brothers, who is now
living, is master of a trading vessel belonging to
Maryport. I met with him at Dublin, in December
1776, and took the opportunity of conversing with
him. 1 wished to try his capacity to distinguish the
colours in a prism, but not having one by me, I asked
him. Whether he had ever seen a rain-bow ? He re-
plied, He had often, and could distinguish the different
colours ; meaning only, that it was composed of dif-
ferent colours, for he could not tell what they were.

I then procured and shewed him a piece of ribbon :
he immediately, without any difficulty, pronounced it
a striped and not a plain ribbon. He then attempted
to name the different stripes : the several stripes of

K.

74

white he uniformly, and without hesitation, called
white : the four black stripes he was deceived in, for
three of them he thought brown, though they were
exactly of the same shade with the other, which he
properly called black. He spoke, however, with difli-
dence as to all those stripes ; and it must be owned,
the black was not very distinct: the light green he
called yellow ; but he was not very positive : he said,
« I think this is what you call yellow/’ The middle
stripe, which had a slight tinge of red, he called a
sort of blue. But he was most of all deceived by the
orange colour j of this he spoke veiy confidently, say-
ing, ff This is the colour of grass ; this is green.” I
also shewed him a great variety of ribbons, the colours
of which he sometimes named rightly, and sometimes
as differently as possible from the true colours.

I asked him. Whether he imagined it possible for
all the various colours he saw, to be mere difference
of light and shade ; whether he thought there could
be various degrees between white and black ; and
that all colours could be composed of these two mix-

75

tures only ? With some hesitation he replied. No, he
did imagine there was some other difference.

I could not conveniently procure from this person
an account in writing; but I have given his own
words, having set them down in writing immediately.
Besides, as this conversation happened only the 10th
of last month, it is still fresh in my memory. I have
endeavoured to give a faithful account of this matter,
and not to render it more wonderful than it really is.

It is proper to add, that the experiment of the
striped ribbon was made in the day-time, and in a
good light.

I am, Sir, &c.

k 2

APPENDIX B.

Observations on Horizontal Refractions which affect
the appearance of terrestrial objects, and the Dip,
or Depression of the Horizon of the Sea. By Joseph
Huddart, Esq. F.R.S.

Read November 24th, 1796.

The variation and uncertainty of the dip, in dif-
ferent states of the air, taken at the same altitude
above the level of the sea, was the occasion of my
turning my thoughts to this subject ; as it renders the
latitude observed incorrect, by giving an erroneous
zenith distance of a celestial object.

I have often observed that low lands and the extre-
mity of head-lands or points, forming an acute angle
with the horizon of the sea, and viewed from a dis-
tance beyond it, appear elevated above it, with an

77

open space between the land and the sea. The most
remarkable instance of this appearance of the land I
observed at Macao, for several days previous to a
typhoon, in which the Locko lost her topmasts in
Macao Roads ; the points of the islands and low lands
appearing the highest, and the spaces between them
and the sea the largest, I ever saw. I believe it arises,
and is proportional to the evaporation going on from
the sea; and in reflecting upon this phenomenon, I
am convinced that those appearances must arise from
refraction, and that instead of the density of the at-
mosphere increasing to the surface of the sea, it must
decrease from some space above it ; and that evapo-
ration is the principal cause which prevents the uni-
formity of density and refraction being continued, by
the general law, down to the surface of the earth :
and I am inclined to believe, though I mention it here
as a conjecture, that the difference of specific gravity
in the particles of the atmosphere may be a principal
agent in evaporation ; for the corpuscles of air, from
their affinity with water, being combined at the sur-

78

face of the fluid from expansion, form air specifically
lighter than the drier atmosphere ; and therefore float,
or rise, from that principle, as steam from water ; and
in their rising (the surrounding corpuscles from the
same cause imbibing a part of the moisture), become
continually drier as they ascend, yet continue ascend-
ing until they become equally dense with the air.*
However, these conjectures I shall leave, and proceed
to the following observations upon refractions.

In the year 1793, when at Allonby in Cumberland,
I made some remarks on the appearance of the Abbey
Head, in Galloway, which in distance from Allonby
is about seven leagues ; and from my window, at fifty
feet above the level of the sea at that time of tide,
I observed the appearance of the land about the Head
as represented in Tab. 1. fig. 1. There was a dry

* Mr. Hamilton, in his very curious essay on the ascent of va-
pours, does not allow of this principle, even as an assistant; though
by a remark (page 15) he takes notice of those appearances in the
horizon of the sea, and says they arise from a strong or unusual de-
gree of refraction ; the contrary of which I hope to illustrate in tin
course of this paper.

79

sand, x y, called Robin Rigg, between me and the
Head, at the distance from my house of between three
and four miles, over which I saw the horizon of the
sea, H O ; the sand at this time was afiout three or
four feet above the level of the sea. The hummock
cf is a part of the head-land, but appeared insulated

or detached from the rest, and considerably elevated

•

above the sea, with an open space between. I then
came down about twenty-five feet, when I had the
dry sand of Robin Rigg, x y, in the apparent horizon,
and lost all that floating appearance seen from above,
and the Abbey Head appeared every where distinct
to the surface of the sand ; this being in the afternoon,
the wet or moisture on the sand would in a great
measure be dried up. I have reason, therefore, to
conclude that evaporation is the cause of a less refrac-
tion near the surface of the sea; and when so much
so as to make an object appear elevated wholly above
the horizon, (as at d in fig. 1.) there will from every
point of this object issue two pencils of rays of light,
which enter the eye of the observer ; and that below

80

the dotted line A B (parallel to the horizon of the sea
H O), the objects on the land will appear inverted.

To explain this phenomenon, 1 shall propose the
following theory, and compare it with the observa-
tions which I have made. Suppose H O, fig. 2, to
represent the horizontal surface ot the sea, and the
parallel lines above it, the lamime or strata of cor-
puscles, which next the fluid are most expanded, or
the rarest ; and every lamina upwards increasing in
density till it arrive at a maximum (and which I shall
in future call the maximum of density) at the line DC,
above which it again decreases in density, ad infinitum.

Though this in reality may be the case, I do not
wish to extend the meaning of the word density fur-
ther, than to be taken for the refractive power of the
atmosphere ; that is, a ray of light entering obliquely
a denser lamina to be refracted towards a perpendi-
cular to its surface ; and in entering a rarer lamina,
the contrary ; which laminae being taken at infinitely
email distances, the ray of light will form a curve,
agreeable to the laws of dioptrics.

81

In 01 dei to establish this principle in horizontal
refractions, I traced over various parts of this shore at
different times, when those appearances seemed favor-
able, with a good telescope, and found objects suffi-
cient to confirm it; though it be difficult at that dis-
tance of the land to get terrestrial objects well defined
so neai the horizon, as will afterwards appear.

One day observing the land elevated, and seeing a
small vessel at about eight miles distance, I from my
window directed my telescope to her, and thought her
a fitter object than any other I had seen for the pur-
pose of explaining the phoenomena of these refrac-
tions. The telescope was forty feet above the level
of the sea, the boat’s mast about thirty-five feet,
she being about twenty to thirty tons burthen. The
baiometer at 29.7 inches, and Fahrenheit’s thermo-
meter at 54°.

The appearance of the vessel, as magnified in the
telescope, was as represented in fig. 3, and from the
mast head to the boom was well defined. I pretty
distinctly saw the head and shoulders of the man at

L

82

the helm ; but the hull of the vessel was contracted,
confused, and ill defined : the inverted image began
to be well defined at the boom (for I could not
clearly perceive the man at the helm inverted,) and
from the boom to the horizon of the sea the sails were
well defined, and I could see a small opening above
the horizon of the sea, in the angle made by the gaff
and mast ; and had the mast been shorter by ten feet
(to the height of y), the whole would have been ele-
vated above the horizon of the sea, and from y to d
an open space. This drawing was taken from a sketch
I took at the time, and represents the proportion of
the inverted to the erect object, as near as I could
take it by the eye, the former being about two-thirds
of the latter in height, and the same breadth respec-
tively; though at one time during my observation,
which I continued for about an hour, I thought the
inverted nearly as tall as the erect object. ”1 lie day
was fine and clear, with a very light air of wind, and
I found very little tremor or oscillation in viewing her
through the telescope.

83

I have laid down fig. 4. for the explanation of the
above phenomenon, in which A represents the window
I viewed 13 the vessel from ; II O, the curved surface
of the sea ; C D, parallel to H O, the height of the
maximum of density of the atmosphere; the lines
marked with the small letters a a, bb, cc, d d , the
pencils of rays under their various refractions from
the vessel to the eye, or object glass of the telescope.

The pencil of rays a a, from a point near the head
of the mainsail, is wholly refracted in a curve convex
upwards, being every where above the maximum of
density ; and the pencil of rays d d, which issues from
the same point in the sail, and passes near the horizon
of the sea at x, is convex upwards from the sail to W,
where it passes the line of maximum of density, which
is the point of inflection ; there it becomes convex
downwards, passing near the horizon at x to y, where
it is again inflected, and becomes convex upwards
from thence to the eye. The pencil of rays b b, from
the end of the boom, passing nearly parallel to the
horizon, and near the maximum of density, suffers

l 2

84

very little deviation from a right line in the first part ;
but in ascending (from the curvature of the sea) will
be convex upwards to the eye. The pencil of rays c c,
from the same point in the boom, may have the small
part to c convex upwards, from c to z it will be con-
vex downwards, and from z to the eye convex up-
wards.

From this investigation it appears, that two pencils
of rays cannot pass from the same point, and enter
the eye, from the law of refraction, except one pencil
pass through a medium which the other has not en-
tered; and therefore the maximum of density was
below the boom, and could not exceed ten feet of
height above the surface of the sea at the time these
observations were made.

Respecting the hull of the vessel being confused,
and ill defined in the telescope, as by fig. 3, it arises
from the blending of the rays, from the different parts
of the object, refracted through the two mediums ;
some parts of the hull appearing erect, and some in-
verted. Suppose the dotted line i i , tig'. 4, an inde-

85

finite pencil of rays, passing from between the inverted
and erect parts of the object, or the upper part of the
hull of the vessel, to the eye, (for the lower part of
the hull could not be observed) : the objects cannot
appear inverted, except the angles at the eye a A c
and a A d, exceed the angle a A i; for the interme-
diate space could only be contracted by the secondary
pencils of rays. The lengths of the inverted, com-
pared with the erect image of the sail, is as the sines
of the angles at the eye a A i to i A d ; and the angle
at the eye a A d, made by the two pencils of rays
from the same point near the head of the sail, must
be double the angle a A i, when the inverted image
is as tall as the erect. In this case, the sines of the
angles a A b, a A c, sAtl, fig. 4, are proportional to
the altitudes ah, a c, ad, in the magnified view of
the vessel, fig. 3.

Under this consideration no inverted image ot the
sail will be formed, until the angle at the eye, made
by the two refracted pencils of rays a a and d d, ex-
ceed the angle made by a a, and b b, the apparent

86

height of the sail of the vessel ; for were those angles
equal, the inverted sail would only be contracted into
the parallel of altitude of the boom b, and render the
appearance confused, as in the hull of the vessel.

Respecting the existence of two pencils of rays
entering the eye from every point of an object not
more elevated than a, or less than i, fig. 3, in this
state of the atmosphere, I cannot bring a stronger
proof than that of the strength of a light when the
rays pass near the horizon of the sea, proved by the
following observations.

Going down Channel about five years ago in the
Trinity yacht, with several of the elder brethren, to
inspect the light-houses, &c. I was told by some of
the gentlemen, who had been on a former survey,
that the lower light of Portland was not so strong as
the upper light, at near distances, but that at greater
distances it was much stronger. I suspected that this
difference arose from the lower light being at or near
the horizon of the sea, and mentioned it at the time ;
but afterwards had a good opportunity of making the

87

observation. We passed the Bill of Portland in the
evening*, steering towards the Start, a fresh breeze
from the northward and clear night; when we had
run about five leagues from the lights, during which
time the upper light was universally allowed to be
the stronger, several gentlemen keeping watch to
make observations thereon, the lower light, drawing
near the horizon, suddenly shone with double lustre.
Mr. Strachan, whose sight is weak, had for some time
before lost sight of both lights, but could then clearly
perceive the lower light. I then went aloft, (as well
as others,) but before 1 got half mast up, the lower
light was weaker than the upper one ; on coming
down upon deck, I found it again as strong as before.
We proceeded on, and soon lost the lower light from
the deck ; and upon drawing the upper light near the
horizon, it like the former shone exceeding bright.

I again went aloft, when it diminished in brightness ;
but from the mast-head I could then see the lower
light near the horizon as strong as before. This is in
consequence of the double quantity of light entering

88

the eye by the two pencils of rays from every point.
To illustrate which, we compare the vessel, fig. 4, to
a light-house built upon the shore, and A the place of
the observer; and having brought down the light so
low as to view it in the direction a a, another light
would appear in the horizon at x from the pencil d d ;
and had the vessel been still enough to have observed
it at this time with a good glass, I doubt not but the
two images might have been distinctly seen : as the
light dropped, (by increasing the distance) the two
images would appear continually to approach each
other, till blended with double light in one, and dis-
appear at the altitude i, above the apparent horizon
of the sea. But, as explained before, if the strength
of evaporation did not separate by refraction the pen-
cils a a and d d to a greater angle than double the
angle that the lamps and reflectors appear under, the
twro images would be blended, and the strong appear-
ance of light would be of shorter duration. The dis-
tance run from the lights, during the time each of the
lights shone bright, would have been useful, but this

89

did not occur at the time, nor have I had the like
oppoitunity since. However, I recommend to the
mariner to station people at different heights in look-
ing out for a light, in order to get sight of it near the
horizon, when it is always the strongest.

Respecting the appearance of the Abbey Head
before mentioned, fig. 1, the dotted line A B repre-
sents the limit, or the lowest points of the land that
can be seen over the sea ; for, as above stated, all the
objects appearing below this line, are the land above
it inverted ; and where the land is low, as at'cZ and m,
it must appear elevated above the horizon of the sea.

In fig. o. let II O represent the curve of the ocean,
and d the extreme top of the mount visible at A by
the help of refraction ; the dotted pencil of rays c c
passing from d to the eye in some part a little below
the maximum of density, where inversion begins ;
therefore no land lower than this can be seen ; for
any pencil from a point in the land lower than this,’
must in the refraction have a contrary flexure in the
curve, and therefore pass above the observer. Let

M

90

A D be a tangent to the curve at A, then the object d
will appear to be elevated by refraction to D ; also
let A v be a tangent to the pencil A x at A, then the
ano'le D A x will appear to be an open space, or be-
tween D and the horizon of the sea. Suppose a stai
should appear very near and over the mount d} as at #,
two pencils would issue from every point of it, and
form a star below as well as above the hummock d.
There are always confused or ill defined images of the
objects at the height of the dotted line, fig. 1, above
the level of the sea, as before mentioned ; and instead
of the points of d ending sharp in that line, they ap-
pear blunted, and the Abbey Head is frequently in-
sulated at the neck m.

I have viewed, from an elevated situation, a point
or head land at a distance beyond the horizon of the
sea, forming, as in fig. 6, a straight line A B, making
an acute angle B A O with the horizon of the sea.
Seeing the extreme point blunted and elevated, I
descended; and though in descending the horizon
cut the land higher, as at H O, H O, yet the point

91

had always the same appearance as a, a, a, fig. 6,
though the land is known to continue in the direction
of the straight line A B to beneath the horizon, or
nearly so, as viewed from the height above.

If then from a low situation we view this head land
through a telescope, the inclination of the surface A 13
to the horizon being known to be a straight line, it
will appear as in fig. 7, the dotted line (at the height
of the point where a perpendicular x y would touch
the extreme of the land) being at the limit or lowest
point of erect vision. And if a tangent to the curved
appearance of the land a b, is drawn parallel to the
inclined surface of the land A 13, fig. 6, touching it at
C, the point C will shew the height of the maximum
of density, where the pencil of the rays of light, from
thence to the eye, approach nearest the sea ; for pen-
cils of rays from this land, taken at small distances
from C, will form parallel curves, nearly through the
refracting mediums, and C will be the point of greatest
refraction ; for above C, as at B, the refraction some-
what decreasing, will appear below the line a b, or

m 2

92

the parallel to the surface of the land, and the refrac-
tions decrease below Ihe point C ; for had they in-
creased uniformly down to the surface of the sea, it
would render the apparent angle of the point of land
s more acute than the angle C a O, contrary to all
observations. .

Thus I have endeavoured to explain the pheeno-
mena of the distorted appearance of the land near the
horizon of the sea, when the evaporation is great;
and when at the least, I never found the land quite
free from it when I used a telescope ; and from thence
infer, that we cannot have any expectation to find a
true correction for the effect of terrestrial refraction,
by taking any certain part of the contained arc ; for
the points zCB, fig. 7, will have various refractions,
though they are at nearly the same distance from the
observer. And if the observations are made wholly
over land, if the ground rises to within a small dis-
tance of the rays of light in their passage from the
object to the eye, as well as at the situation of the
object and observer, the refractions will be subject to

93

he influenced by the evaporations of rains, dews, &c.,
which is sufficiently proved by the observations of
Colonel Williams, Captain Mudge, and Mr. Dalby,
Phil. Trans. 1795, p. 583.

The appearances mentioned by Colonel Williams,
Captain Mudge, and Mr. Dalby, (Phil. Trans. 1795,
p. 586, 587,) cannot be demonstrated upon general
principles, as they arise from evaporation producing
partial refractions. In those general principles, it is
supposed that the same lamina of density is every
where at an equal distance from the surface of the
sea, at least as far as the eye can reach a terrestrial
object ; but in the partial refractions, the lamina of
the expanded or rarefied medium may be of various
figures according to circumstances, which will refract
according to the incidence of the rays, and affect the
appearance of the land accordingly, which I have
.often seen to a surprising degree. But my principal
view is to shew the uncertainty of the dip of the sea,
and that the effect of evaporation tends to depress the
apparent horizon at x, when the eye is not above the

94

maximum of density; and from hence the difficulty
of laying down any correct formula for these refrac-
tions, whilst the law of evaporation is so little under-
stood, which indeed seems a task not easy to surmount.
The effect indicated by the barometer and thermo-
meter is insufficient : and should the hygrometer be
improved to fix a standard for moisture in the atmos-
phere., and shew the variations near the surface of the
ocean, which certainly must be taken into the account
(evaporation going on quicker in a dry than a moist
atmosphere.,) the theory might still be incomplete for
correcting the tables of the dip. I shall therefore con-
clude this paper, by shewing a method I used in prac-
tice, in order to obviate this error, in low latitudes.

When I was desirous to attain more accurately the
latitude of any head-land, &c. in sight, I frequently
observed the angular distances of the Sun’s nearest
limb from the horizons, upon the meridian both north
and south, beginning a few minutes before noon, and
taking alternately the observations each way, from the
poop, or some convenient part of the ship, where the

95

Sun and the horizon both north and south were not
intercepted ; and having found the greatest and least
distances from the respective horizons, which was at
the Sun’s passing the meridian, and corrected both
for refraction, by subtracting from the least, and add-
ing to the greatest altitude, the quantity given by the
table ; and also having corrected for the error of the
instrument, and the Sun’s semi-diameter; the sum of
these two angular distances, reduced as above, — 180°,
is equal to double the dip, as by the following

EXAMPLE.

The Sun’s declination 4° 32' 30" north, and its semi-
diameter 1 5' 58" took the following observation :

The meridian distance of the

Sun’s nearest limb from the South North

horizon of the sea 78° 36' 30" = 101° 1' 20"

Refraction per table — 0 11 = -J- Oil

Distances corr. for refraction = 78 36 19 = 101 1 31

Error of the Sextant 1 32 -\- 1 32

Sun’s semi-diameter -f- 15 58 -f- 15 58

Carried over ... 78 53 49

101 19 1

9(j

South

Brought over 78° 53' 49"

\ diff. or the dip found .... 6 25

Altitude reduced = 78 47 24

Zenith distance =11 12 36

The Sun’s declination N. . . = 4 3 2 30

Latitude of the ship N. . . . = 15 45 06

North

101° 19' 1"
78 58 49

180 12 50
180'

diff. ... 12 50
| = G 25
Dip.

I regret that I cannot in this paper insert the dip
which I have found in my observations ; for I only
retained the latitude of the ship determined thereby,
as is usual at sea ; I generally rejected the error of
the instrument, the dip, and semi-diameter, as they
affect both observations with the same signs, and re-
duced the observation by the following method :

South North

Sun’s dist. as before . 78° 36' 30" 101° 1' 20"

Refraction — Oil -f- 011

Dis. cor. for refraction 78 36 19 101 1 31 101° 1' 31"

+ 78 36 19

Sura of S.diam. dip, & Sum 179 37 50

refraction — f diff. — 11 5 180 •+• 11 5

78 47 24 Diff. 22 10

i 11 5 101 12 36

90 90

The \ dist. as before =11 12 36

| D. = 11 12 36

97

It may be observed, that neither the dip, semi-
diameter, or index error, can affect the zenith dis-
tance of the Sun’s centre; and the refraction being
small near the zenith, the result must be true if the
angles are accurately taken j and it is only necessary
to obseive, that when the sum of the distances is less
than 180°, the half difference must be added to the
distances, as by the last reduction. There is a diffi-
culty in making this observation when the Sun passes
the meridian very near the zenith, as the change in
azimuth from east to west is too cpiick to allow suffi-
cient time; nor can it be obtained by the sextant
when the Sun passes the meridian more than 30 de-
grees from the zenith ; for I never could adjust the
back observation of the Hadley’s quadrant with suffi-
cient accuracy to be depended upon.

N

#O0t0Cttpt.

-©o—

Perhaps it ought to have been more particularly
stated in the body of this memoir, that between the
late Captain Huddart and many of the highly scien-
tific men who were his contemporaries, there existed
feelings of strong attachment ; and that when either
he was jointly engaged with them, or opportunities
occurred in which kindness could be expressed towards
him, the best attention was always offered. Among
others, whose professions led them to act with Cap-
tain Huddart, was the late Mr. Rennie, with whom
he was engaged in many of his most important reports
and public works ; and it is in the knowledge of the
writer, that Mr. Rennie was at all times happy to have
the advice and sanction of Captain Huddart, previous
to engaging in any work of consequence. To have
been thus consulted by one so sound in science and

100

so useful in its application as the late Mr. Rennie, will
be considered a valuable testimonial of his knowledge
and abilities ; and Captain Huddart was anxious,
while his powers remained, to further the undertakings
of his friend.

With the late Mr. Watt of Soho, eminent as a
philosopher, and the greatest contributor to the ad-
vancement of practical science that this country or
even Europe has ever known. Captain Huddart had
the happiness of being well acquainted ; and although
their individual pursuits had not in the earlier periods
of their lives led them to much personal intercourse,
so great was Mr. Watt’s estimation of him, and so
anxious was he to evince it, that at a very advanced
period of life, and without solicitation on the part of
Captain Huddart, he presented himself in London,
purposely to attend as an evidence in support of a
patent which had been infringed, and which was at the
time under litigation. This anecdote, trifling as it
might appear under any other circumstance, serves
only to sanction the opinion which the recorder of

101

Captain Huddart’s life entertains of his abilities. The
friendship and active co-operation of such men as the
late Mr. Watt and Mr. Rennie, cannot fail to shed a
lustre over his memory.

It ought too, to have been known, that in his own
pai ticuhu sphere, and in the East India Company’s
service, where he passed so large a portion of his life,
he was equally beloved and respected, for he was ever
kind and ready to afford such assistance as was in his
power: and in relation to his anxiety to forward the
science of Navigation, it reflects credit on his memory,
that after a fire which destroyed the first edition of that
most excellent and accurate work, Tables for Navi-
gation and Nautical Astronomy, by Mendoza de Rios,”
Captain Huddart materially contributed to the print-
ing of a second. As a member of the Trinity House,
his talents and acquirements were always at the service
of the Corporation ; and in the many and extensive
surveys undertaken by him for this most honourable
and useful Board, he displayed a knowledge of the
piactical application of science, which few other men

102

have attained ; and so plain, but so correct were the
instructions given by him for the various Lights and
Beacons erected under his immediate attention, that
mariners of slight acquirement cannot fail to under-
stand them ; and so anxious was he to forward one of
the particular branches entrusted to the care of the
Trinity House, that of Light-houses, that in several
instances he attended their erection ; not suffering that
to be done by others which could be accomplished by
himself, when great responsibility or public utility de-
manded his personal superintendance.

W. Phillips, Printer, London.